As reported, the moment Argentina fans were waiting for has arrived as Lionel Messi has once again been included in his national team’s squad.

The Argentina national team will play their first of two FIFA window matches against Chile in about twenty days. Five days later, they will face Colombia in their second World Cup qualifier at the Monumental Stadium.

Lionel Scaloni announced the preliminary squad today. His list includes 28 players, all of whom play outside Argentina. Players from the domestic league will be added later.

Fans were waiting to see Lionel Messi’s return. The Albiceleste captain, who missed the March FIFA window due to injury, is included in today’s preliminary list.

Interestingly, 10 of these 28 called-up players will immediately participate in the Club World Cup after the season ends. It was rumored that Scaloni would exclude those participating in this tournament, but the Argentina coach has called up these 10 players. The players called up to the national team who must also compete in the Club World Cup are: Messi, Molina, Otamendi, Di Paul, Enzo, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro, Giuliano Simeone, Nico González, and Ángel Correa.

Argentina’s Preliminary Squad:

Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille)
Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven)
Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid)
Juan Foyth (Villarreal)
Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille)
Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
Facundo Medina (Lens)
Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon)
Valentín Barco (Strasbourg)
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Leandro Paredes (Roma)
Nicolás Domínguez (Nottingham Forest)
Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético Madrid)
Thiago Almada (Lyon)
Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid)
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
Valentín Carboni (Lazio)
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Nicolás González (Juventus)
Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid)
Ángel Correa (Atlético Madrid)